Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Soba Noodles with Cucumbers

This basic recipe for soba noodle salad that features cucumbers as an ingredient. You can add other veggies to the salad: edamame (green soy beans), thin carrot strips, peas, green onions, etc. Garnish with cilantro. Soba noodles can be found in the international foods section of a supermarket or you can substitute whole wheat spaghetti. If you cannot find black sesame seeds, toast regular sesame seeds in a heavy pan until brown and top the salad with them. Best served cold.Cleo, Food Bank volunteer

Ingredients:

1 pound soba noodles or whole wheat spaghetti

1/4 cup soy sauce

4 drops hot pepper oil

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon finely minced fresh ginger

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1 large seedless cucumber, quartered and diced

Black sesame seeds

Directions:

Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling water until tender, following directions on the package. Drain well. Whisk together the soy sauce, hot pepper oil, vinegar, ginger and sesame oil and toss with the warm noodles. Add the cucumber and top with the sesame seeds. Serve at room temperature or chill and serve.